What's the Read for 2021?
Our selection for 2021 is Eat Joy, edited by Natalie Eve Garrett. Eat Joy is a collection of intimate essays by many diverse and celebrated authors who share how comfort food flavored challenging moments in their lives.
The essays by authors such as Anthony Doerr, Natalie Baszile, Rakesh Satyal, Beth Nguyen, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Claire Messud, Carmen Maria Machado, and Alexander Chee are also accompanied by recipes. It’s a beautifully illustrated cook book for the soul that will allow us all to connect after what has been one of the most challenging years in our history.
One Book, Many Kind, Connected Readers
Welcome to Alameda County Reads! What if all of Alameda County read the same book? What could we learn from one another?
Starting January 11, 2021, this county-wide literary event asks our residents to read and discuss the same book. In addition to discussion groups, the program includes special events inspired by the themes in the book.
Alameda County Reads celebrates our communities, our connections, and ourselves by encouraging a thoughtful exchange of ideas through the joy of reading together. Please join us!
Eat Joy Illustrations by Meryl Rowin
At the heart of the Alameda County Reads program are discussion groups. Please help us build community connections by joining a Library discussion group or creating your own discussion group in your community. All participants will get a free copy of Eat Joy, while supplies last.
Can't wait to get started? Listen to Natalie Eve Garrett read four of the stories aloud, or download a copy of the discussion guide.
Share Your Food Story
Upload your cooking videos, recipes, spice challenge results, or food essays to share with our community.
We look forward to seeing how food has provided you with comfort during difficult times, and are hopeful our County will be a stronger, more compassionate place as a result of sharing our experiences with one another.
